59. aritjs. 163 



pectoral. Crown of the head with some scattered granulations ; oc- 

 cipital plate triangular, elevated along the middle; 

 as long as broad ; the basal bone of the dorsal spine 

 scarcely crenulated. Dorsal spine of moderate 

 strength, as long as the head without snout, ser- 

 rated behind ; the soft dorsal pointed ; adipose fin 

 short. Pectoral spine (broken) scarcely stronger 

 than that of the dorsal fin, serrated interiorly. Ven- 

 tral fins large, extending beyond the origin of the 

 anal, as long as the pectoral. 

 Sumatra. 



a. Nine inches long : not good state. From Sir S. Raines's Collection. 

 — Type of the species. 



B. Teeth on the palate granular or obtusely conical. 

 a. Teeth on the palate in four groups, those of the vomer being present. 



43. Arius dussumierii. 



Alius dussumieri, Cuv. fy Val. xv. p. 84. 

 D. 1/7. A. 14. 



The length of the head is two-sevenths of the total (without 

 caudal) ; it is broader than high, its greatest width being three- 

 fourths of its length. Head granulated above ; the occipital process 

 is triangular, sharply keeled along the middle, longer than broad, 

 with the lateral margins nearly straight. The teeth on the palate 

 are obtusely conical, arranged in four patches : a smaller one on 

 each side of the vomer, and a larger one on each palatine bone. The 

 maxillary barbels extend to the root of the pectoral. Dorsal fin 

 higher than the body ; its spine is rather strong, slightly serrated 

 along both edges, and as long as the head without snout ; pectoral 

 spine as strong as that of the dorsal fin. 



Coast of Malabar. Ceylon. 



a. Stuffed. Ceylon. From Dr. Kelaart's Collection. 



44. Arius kirkii. 

 D. 1/7. A. 17. P. 1/12. 

 The height of the body is one-fifth of the total length (without 

 caudal), the length of the- head two-sevenths; head not much de- 

 pressed, granulated above. The occipital process is subtriangular, 

 longer than broad, with straight lateral margins and with a slight 

 median longitudinal ridge. Teeth on the palate granu- 

 lar, in four patches : each vomerine patch is somewhat 

 rounded and not much smaller than the eye ; its distance 

 from the intermaxillary teeth equals its. own diameter ; 

 it is separated by a narrow groove only from the pala- 

 tine patch, which is elongate, tapering behind ; the two 

 palatine patches are convergent behind. The maxillary barbel ex- 

 tends to the middle, the outer one of the mandible to the base, of 



m 2 



